Burglaries and break-ins soar as Hong Kong police are left short-handed battling anti-government protests, but crime down 7.2 per cent overall, force says
- Vehicle thefts and robberies also on the up, but serious crime such as murder and rape falls
- Months of protests have ‘undeniably undermined’ police resources, official says
Criminals have been cashing in on the deployment of police resources for anti-government protests to raid homes, offices and shops and steal cash and valuables from individuals and vehicles across Hong Kong, but the city’s overall crime rate fell more than seven per cent over the past four months, the Post has learned.
The latest police figures show reports of burglary rose 48.8 per cent to 720 between June and September this year, from 484 in the same period last year.
According to the statistics, police handled 417 reports of theft from vehicles in the past four months, up 34 per cent from 311 in the same period in 2018.
The number of robberies also soared 6.5 per cent to 53, while reports of snatching rose 51 per cent to 62.
Protest-related crimes also led to a 100 per cent rise in reports of assault on police, and a surge in offences against public order between June and September.
Figures show reports of assault on police soared to 148, and cases of offences against public order, including unauthorised assemblies, increased to 168 in the same period.
Police handled 2,153 reports of criminal damage over the past four months, up 29.9 per cent from 1,658 in the same period last year.
But the city’s overall crime rate fell 7.2 per cent to 17,432 in the same period. The number of violent crimes – including murder, rape and armed robbery – also fell by 204 cases to 2,901 over that period.
Reports of serious drug offences dropped nearly 75 per cent to 121 in the past four months of this year from 483 in the same period last year, while the number of serious gambling cases also dropped by 60 per cent to 77 in the same period.
Protester who desecrated Chinese flag gets 200 hours’ community service
A police source said anti-crime operations had continued but were smaller and less frequent than in the past.
The operations included raids on gambling dens and brothels, as well as anti-burglary operations which consumed time and manpower, he said.
“We don’t have enough manpower to carry out such operations because a lot officers have been drafted in to deal with ongoing street protests,” he said.
Superintendent Dickey Kwan Chun-ting, of the marine police regional crime unit, said the social unrest had “undeniably undermined” the service police had been able to provide.
“Frontline resources have been redeployed, and that has created opportunities for criminals,” he said.
Kwan also revealed the figures of burglary across the city during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, to announce the details of the arrest of two men in connection with seven break-ins and one attempted burglary.
Residents still in the dark over ‘mystery smell’ which sparked clashes
He said there was a significant increase in burglaries at industrial buildings between July and September, with the number doubling on the same period last year.
He added shop burglaries had increased 150 per cent, while reports of break-ins at residential units rose 61 per cent.
The upsurge in burglary reports over the past three months has led police to urge the public to strengthen security at their homes, shops and offices.
“I appeal to the public to secure their windows and doors. Stay vigilant and report to police if you spot any suspicious person in your vicinity,” Kwan said.
In August, police stopped patrolling Hong Kong’s streets by foot because of the lack of available officers, as well as the heightened risk of being attacked by hard-core protesters. Officers are instead patrolling in police vans.
On September 21, the deluxe mansion of Hong Kong tycoon Richard Li Tzar-kai in Shek O was the target of a burglary.
No property was stolen and police arrested a 31-year-old male visitor from the mainland for attempted burglary.
